Santa Clara University School of Law: San Jose - Summer Abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica

Site visits include:

Costa Rica2*Meeting with union members who are suffering labor rights violations in banana and pineapple plantations
- Meeting with rural communities who lack basic access to clean water
- Traveling by boat through territories of indigenous peoples
- Participating in a hearing before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights

The Costa Rica program in human rights takes advantage of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and numerous human rights organizations which are located in San José, Costa Rica. Our three-week human rights course provides a broad, general overview of the international human rights system, before drilling deeper to explore human rights within the inter-American system.  

The course introduces students to public international law, the origins and scope of the international human rights movement, global enforcement mechanisms and institutions – with a focus on the United Nations human rights system, covering treaty-based and Charter-based human rights institutions. Students examine both the law and politics of regional human rights through the lens of the inter-American system. These international human rights classes are taught in English Monday-Thursday. We also offer Spanish language instruction and a cultural immersion program at no additional charge.

Academic program: May 22 – June 9 (4 units)
Optional internship: June 12 ~ July 21 (4-5 units)